Would you believe me if I said there was a 105 year old woman who teaches Yoga?
Click below to watch the video that proves it:
I was pretty shocked too, to be honest!
And when I read about this incredible woman, I just had to share this with you – because if there’s one thing I want you to take from this article it’s this…
That you’re NEVER ‘too old’ do exercise. Ever.
Now typically when we think of a Yoga instructor, we picture someone who is young, flexible and trendy.
But this 105 year old woman, Lil Hansen, is far from that Stereotype. She may be 105, but she still glides right into the Warrior pose like it’s easy (which I think it’s far from!), while teaching a weekly Yoga class at her local senior centre.
And the most interesting part? Lil credits her regular Yoga practice as one of the reasons WHY she’s lived so long.
Talk about inspirational.
Seeing this story also got me thinking about one of our patients, Gillian.
Now Gillian may not be 105, but at 94 she’s not far off!
Let me tell you her story…
Early one morning, about 4 years ago when Gillian was 90, she stood at the door of her Daughter’s bedroom and said that her left arm was hurting between her shoulder and elbow.
Scared that Gillian was having heart problems, her Daughter called the Doctor who did some cardiac testing.
One test required her to walk on a treadmill. The nurses were worried that Gill would lose her balance and hurt herself – but she kept up with no troubles at all and even had enough breath to let the nurses and Doctor know that she saw a Personal Trainer once a week, and even to this day she still does!
Gill has always valued exercise – and I’m convinced that her dedicated, longtime fitness habit has slowed her decline and kept her in great health.
And that pain in her arm, turned out to be nothing to worry about in the end.
So where am I getting at with these two stories of these inspiring women?
That exercise is the best medicine that not many of us want to do.
Even small amounts of exercise bring big rewards…
Several studies have been done to show that even a low level of exercise can bring health benefits – such as just 15 minutes of walking a day can add three to five years extra to your life!
So even if the thought of exercise makes your toes curl – it doesn’t take very much exercise (or even breaking a sweat) to benefit from it.
Let’s take a look at just some of the benefits…
Exercise helps keep ageing bodies healthy by increasing blood flow to the brain, carrying extra oxygen and other nutrients that keep you on the ball and feeling great!
It also helps keep blood pressure and your blood sugar levels steady, lowering the risk of any vascular problems creeping up on you.
Exercise can also lower the risk of dementia by keeping the part of the brain where we make and store memories – a healthy size and functioning the way it should.
Of course, as we get older the body ages and it’s inevitable that we will have our limits, but if you’re thinking you’d like to start exercising now – it’s always best to start slowly and move from zero to something – even if that’s a 10 minute gentle walk.
And don’t let the fact that typically exercise is tied with going to the gym stop you, because it doesn’t have to involve stepping foot in a gym at all.
Back to Gillian, exercise hasn’t always meant the gym. Even though she sees a Personal Trainer once a week, she also keeps fit by doing daily tasks around the house like cutting the lawn, and gardening – one of her favourite things to do when the sun comes out!
So don’t let the word exercise put you off…
It can be ANYTHING…
From a gentle walk down the sea front, gardening, walking the dog, playing with the Grandkids, taking up a Yoga class.
It doesn’t have to be tough.
The key is finding something you ENJOY, to help make exercise and short bursts of daily movement realistic for you and possible.
After all, who REALLY enjoys getting heavily out of breath and looking like a red tomato after a workout??
What’s stopping you?
For more tips on how to get exercise into your daily regime and feel great no matter what age you are, click here to get your copy of Paul’s book, The Healthy Habit: www.thehealthyhabitbook.com
You might know Paul as an expert Columnist who writes weekly health articles for TWO of the North East's biggest daily Newspapers, The Northern Echo And The Hartlepool Mail, he is a regular Speaker at Industry Seminars around the globe and a Radio Personality, often heard on the BBC. Paul has been an expert guest on dozens of Radio shows and regularly interviewed in newspapers, magazines and trade journals all over the world, including the Guardian.
Paul’s background included working extensively in the Premier League with a Top Professional Football Team, and since quitting his job in Professional Football in 2007, his Physio Practice has become the fastest growing in the UK and biggest in the North East. So successful, that companies like BUPA, ASDA, The Vela Group And Coast & Country, repeatedly retain his Physio company's services to keep healthy their own staff and workforce. Paul Gough Physio Rooms is now a large multi-physio, multi clinic speciality practice in Darlington, Durham, Guisborough and Hartlepool.
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